Born out of our love of analogue media and our desire to experience it to its fullest, the Modern Line Universal Phono Preamp is our latest iteration. Upgraded to fit the modern chassis, we improved the power supply filtering and Cathode Follower circuits. And best of all, we made it less expensive and easier to build!
The Modern Line Phono Preamp keeps to the same philosophy we use on all our designs. Short signal paths, minimalist design, no feedback, and pure Class A. And with an entirely passive RIAA circuit that means there is as little as possible standing between you and your music.
But it also keeps flexibility where it counts, using a 6 or 12 vdc SMPS, the V1 and V2 gain tubes can be switched between the different variants of the 6SL7 tube, including the 12SL7 and the 14F7. Keeping your options open for finding just the right sound for your system. After all, the “Tubes Are The Amplifiers”.
jahozafat (verified owner) –
I finished building my Kit Phono Preamp this morning. I’m listening to it right now with their Rocket Preamp Kit. It is truly amazing the difference there is in sound for me. I couldn’t be happier with my choice to build their kits. Rolling tubes makes an immediate difference as well. I’ve switched tubes in other preamps and had to strain to hear the difference. Their design just seems to get out of the way and let the tubes do their job and amplify the signal. It’s as simple as that and I for one think that’s the way it should be.
Do yourself a favor and get the build stands. I’ve built kits without them and they aren’t necessary but make the process so much better. I found myself flipping it over just to check on things to be thorough. With other builds I’ve done I didn’t want to move it just because I’d have to reposition what I had in position to prop it up.
One thing that really surprised me was my ability hear more details at lower volumes. In the past, I would turn up the volume to get some of those extra details. At times I noticed myself thinking “ooh what was that?” I haven’t heard that before in this song. What a joyful experience that is. I don’t feel the fatigue and want to listen longer. I Don’t want to stop. I really feel like I’m getting so much more out of my music. It feels like the music has more layers now. The instruments that I either barely noticed before or never noticed at all had their own space to be heard if I chose to focus on them. And when I do that I can pick out their individual details. As I am writing this I just heard somebody rocking back in chair. I never noticed that before in Sgt Pepper. So much joy. Wow!
The sound is tangible. That is the best word to describe it. There were times when I was listening to the music that I felt I could reach out and grab the instruments around me. I could hear so much more of the recordings. There were things I struggle to describe but I will try. Some instruments have a reverberation that feels so real that I can’t believe what I’m hearing. I was hearing not just the music but the individuals interacting with the instruments making the music. And I could hear more of the room it was recorded in. Almost as if I am in the room with the musicians. That is remarkable to me.
All of this almost has an existential effect on me. I am not the type of person that looks back at life and wonders what if this, what if that. But now when I listen to music I get that feeling. I think what if I could turn back time so that I could start collecting records way back when. I think what if I could have been listening to music this way all my life. I guess I’ll have to be content with fully enjoying the difference now.
If you are on the fence and need a push I’m here to give you that nudge in the right direction. Don’t hesitate, trust me you won’t be disappointed. I had a hard time believing that there could be this much difference. When I heard words like Sound stage, layers and separation I didn’t really understand what they meant and to be perfectly honest I wasn’t even sure people weren’t imagining it. I am now a believer.
The best thing about Mellow Tone Amps is Jim and Charles. They are people you can trust. They have never steered me in the wrong direction. I am so glad I’ve followed every piece of advice I’ve learned directly from Jim and Charles and from watching a great deal of their videos.
In the last episode of the build series when Charles said “The microphone is not doing this justice” a truer statement has never been made! That particular piece of music is absolutely amazing with the Modern Line Phono and Rocket Preamp combination.
My life has been made better building and listening to music with these amps. I’m actually getting emotional thinking about it. I can’t thank Jim and Charles enough for that. I hope this feeling never wears off.
-Gary West
totemarro (verified owner) –
Like the previous reviewer, this kit has blown me away. I finished in just a week and today I had a chance to put it through its paces. It’s been a long time since I have been amazed by a new product and I have to be really impressed to rate an item so highly. Jim and Charles said that this phono preamp was something special and they weren’t kidding. I played several albums today that I know well and everyone was a revelation in how they sounded. The detail was exceptional, the noise floor was very low with no discernible hum and top to bottom was crystal clear and articulate. Stage width and depth was excellent with great layering of the musicians and their instruments and dynamics were much improved over what I am used to. The difference between my previous systems sound and now was literally night and day. There are moments in life when you feel you have arrived and witnessed something special, today was one of those instances. Jim and Charles are to be applauded for their brilliant videos making the build very straight forward as well as being very educational and informative. I have a decent understanding of electronics and basic DIY, but building this kit was initially a new experience for me. I needn’t have worried , it was so enjoyable because I followed all the advice, tips and tricks so I didn’t run into any problems. I am an online reviewer for a HiFi magazine in the UK and wish to showcase this kit soon. Tube rolling will be very interesting as the ones supplied are very good and i can’t wait to try others out and report back my findings. If you are thinking about trying this kit out or simply buying a completed unit take the plunge, you will not be disappointed.
George Curts (verified owner) –
I received my kit on March 24th and completed it on April 1st. The whole project was one huge fun learning experience. I’ve done one other tube DIY kit and it tuned out great. This kit was on a whole new level. The video series was the best and very detailed, making it less intimidating to build. If your soldering skills are just okay then Charles and Jim will make you feel like an expert when you’re done. I actually learned how to use flux the correct way with this build. This kit is of very high quality parts and the sound is the direct result of those parts.
The sound? I played KISS’s debut LP that I’ve had since 1974 that a good friend gave to me for Christmas that year (yeah it has survived since my high school days!). I’ve never heard that album sound so ALIVE and IN YOUR FACE! The previous reviewers hit it on the nose about being there with the musicians in the studio as the music is just so explosive! I was caught by surprise as I had to remove my step-up-transformer from the setup for my Sumiko Blue Point No. 3 low output cartridge as it was blowing up my Scarlett 2I2 USB interface. Then I had to lower the Gain knobs down to ¼ for normal listening – no more RED clipping. It was well worth the investment and time building this great tube phono preamp and I’m at a loss of words as I’m listening to my 3rd album, Orion The Hunter, and I’m just rockin’!
George Curts
Vinyl Rescue (YouTube Channel)
jasonweiser59 (verified owner) –
I completed the test build in a couple of evenings. I highly recommend watching all the videos first. Then watch them again as you build. Questions will be answered that you have along the way because you’ve already looked ahead. You need to watch the videos to build the machine. If you jump ahead you might miss out on some really cool tips. Clearly these guys have been doing it for a while. I have been spending much time and money on my system over the years. Several years ago I found Jim at valvesNmore. I had recently purchased a Willsenton R8. I was terribly disappointed with the sound of the Chinese tubes. I was elated with the sound I was able to get with vintage tubes from valvesNmore. This put me on a whole new path. A wonderful Journey. I have since used several very expensive preamplifiers and like looking for that sound. Everything was a little better but still missing something. I have a lab and I fix and restore vintage audio equipment. I listen to lots of stuff. I decided to build this kit because of its affordability and the people it originated from. People that know good sound. I also ordered The Rocket Preamp to play it with. And compare it to my very expensive Conrad Johnson pbv11.
I thought the Conrad Johnson was wonderful but I’ve been rolling tubes for a long time trying to tame down the brightness. Well after building this kit the detail and wonderment from my turntable was astounding. This kit is incredible. Now I have to buy a new record player. I can actually hear the motor and all the imperfections of my Project Debut Carbon. Not a high-end turntable. So that will be next. This equipment has exposed my weaknesses. I really can’t say enough good about the Modern Line Phono Pre. Wow! So I was still a bit disappointed with how bright we were and I was blaming it on my horn loaded Klipsch Cornwalls. I had the Rocket Pre built already before testing and put it into the system after 2 days of listening just to get a good benchmark. The Modern Line Phono pre paired with the Rocket is amazing! I think my journey is over. Get yourself the Modern Line. Hopefully they’ll also make matching monoblocks. I’m so happy. Now I’ve been saving for more tubes for more fun. Get those vintage tubes while you still can. Happy listening and enjoy the music.
PS. I’m a little sad that the journey is over. I still have that turntable to shop for. And there’s always new speaker cables to build. Haha.
A big heartfelt thanks to Jim and Charles.
aaloggers (verified owner) –
Some time ago I was looking at some videos from the Youtube channel “Mellow Tone Amps”.
To be more precise the videos concerning the Modern Line Phono Tube Pre-Amp.
As DIY in audio always has my interest I watched a few vids and got very interested.
So far my experience with tube equipment was only a tube headphone amp kit from Bottlehead (the Crack).
Actually I didn’t need another phono pre-amp as I already had a few….. but nothing with tubes in it.
Recently retired from work and have extra time on hand so I thought it would be an excellent idea to build the ML phono pre-amp.
I ordered a kit with the Platinum Tubeset and waited for the arrival.
Since I live in the Netherlands it took a few weeks and after having paid the import duties it arrived.
It took me three evenings to build. As a guide I watched the videos and made sure I did everything Jim and Charles were doing.
Those videos were not only very helpful but also well produced and had a very nice pace to it.
Well done!
The first exciting thing is of course when you plug it in and have to make some measurements.
Before that I tripple checked all connections and made sure everything was in the correct place facing the correct direction.
Plugged it in and …. no smoke , no flashes and no fuses blown. So far so good!
I had forgotten to order a SMPS (in my case the 6V version) and was using a bench variable PS while waiting the arrival of a 6V SMPS.
Well time to connect it to my system.
No hum whatsoever only a soft white noise kinda sound when turning up the volume far beyond listening levels. Excellent!
Time to pull out a record.
Recently bought Yello’s album “Touch” which has some great sounds and can be bass heavy at times.
It sounded so good with the ML. The ML was able to reproduce what was on that record easily.
The previous connected phono pre is a Hegel V10 and I had a friend over to listen and we switched between the ML and the Hegel. Both preferred the sound of the ML.
After listening that evening to soundtracks, Jazz, Latin, Rock, Pop, Ambient , Instrumental and any other genre I have in my collection I can only conclude that this is not only a great Kit to build and a great learning experience but it is also very rewarding when listening to it.
So what’s next?
Well that depends on Jim and Charles next kit …. a headphone tube amp.
Yes I said previously I already have one ….. but you know what? There is always room for more 😁
Cheers,
Arno
jeff.noblin (verified owner) –
First of all I would like to mention the attention to detail Jim and Charles have gone through to make this kit build a very enjoyable process. The kit arrived very well packaged and parts were divided up and clearly marked thus making check-in and organization prior to building a breeze. I have built many components from kits as well as just from circuit layouts and I must say this kit is far and away much nicer than any I have come in contact with. The circuit board is very high quality and clearly laid out and marked. The components were well within specification and of high quality. Even the hardware and case components were top notch.
The Build Series videos are a great asset to achieving a functional end product without any need for re-work. All the questions you might have during the build were clearly addressed in the videos. It is like having an expert along side while processing through the different stages of the build. Once I completed the kit I did all the checks for correct voltages and everything was dead on the first time. I have never had a kit go together as smoothly as this one. If you ever wanted to build your own audio components, this kit is a great place to start without fear of getting frustrated or not being able to complete properly.
As for how it sounds… I have done initial testing and the sound is quite remarkable. I will do a follow up review after I have tweaked a few things and allowed for some break in. I don’t like doing assessments of a new component in my audio system until I have had a little time with them. I don’t critically listen with new items for a little while but rather just enjoy them for what they are. With that being said the phono preamp sounds amazing out of the gate. I use several different cartridges both moving coil and moving magnet along with a variety of step up transformers that will need some time to dial in but I am confident the end result will be wonderful. I will do some direct comparisons with several phono preamps that I have either built or purchased (tube based and solid state) and will report back when I have completed the testing.
To summarize. The Universal Phono Preamp is a keeper. It represents very good value and provides an enjoyable build process. Initial impressions of the sound quality lead me to believe this is an audiophile level component that is very reasonably priced. If a tube phono preamp is on your list to add to your system and you are curious about DIY Hi-Fi, then don’t hesitate to add this to your short list. Very impressive!
Addendum:
I have had some time with new phono preamp and I must say I am quite impressed. I have compared it to several preamps I own. the MTA preamp is very quiet. Not to the level of the 2 solid state models I have (Schiit Mani 2 and Gold Note PH10) but very close. Cable routing and proximity to power cables must be taken into consideration as always and good quality shielded cables are a must. With that being said, once sorted out the sound was superb! This preamp compared well to my existing favorite phono preamp (EAR 834), but has better overall tonal range. It has a slightly warm texture to it that I prefer. Don’t get me wrong with this description. It’s not an overly warm sounding syrupy tube amp, but rather a non fatiguing natural sound. I have not rolled any tubes in it yet but plan to in the near future. The best way I can describe the sound is by saying I get lost in the music rather than thinking about the component. I have used it with 3 different cartridges. One MM and two moving coils. With the moving coils I use a SUT (step up transformer) and must say I am impressed with the flexibility of the various combinations I have tried. My favorite combination is with a Dyanvector DV-20x2L and a Hashimoto SUT. Needless to say this combination will be in the rotation for quite a while with the MTA Phono Preamp. Excellent job guys.
Jeff Noblin
Stan Young (verified owner) –
I’ll start with the building process:
Super fun and easy with their step by step videos. I love all the explanation they provide in the series, it helps give a true understanding of what, why and how they work.
Listening experience: I completed the build about 2 weeks ago and have listened to it almost every night since then.
I’m using my Thorens TD 124 with a Ortofon 2M Blue > Universal Phono preamp > Rocket preamp > McIntosh MC30 mono blocks > Focal Aria 926 speakers. This phonostage is pulling details out of whatever I throw at it!!!
From Wes Montgomery’s “Smokin’ at the half note” to Big Thiefs “Capacity” to Bernsteins “Chichester Psalms” I am getting intense clarity, balance and a rich tube sound. I’ll continue to experiment with different cartridges and roll tubes once I get out of the honeymoon phase but for right now I can’t get enough of this phonostage!! I also want to mention how great this design looks as well, its a great addition to any vinyl lovers gear. I look forward to more builds from you guys.
Thanks Jim and Charles!!
Stan Young
leighh (verified owner) –
Wow! I had a story to tell, but all previous reviewers have pretty much said it all:
congratulations and thanks to Jim and Charles on not only a rewarding, well-guided build process (perhaps, for an octogenarian who had to relearn his soldering skills, a somewhat character-building process at times 🙂 ), but even MORE REWARDING: the finished product! : I have been thoroughly enjoying the Universal Phono Preamp this past month! I’ve been running through my multi-genre ‘library’ once again (symphonic; instrumental jazz; female vocal; classic rock) and note:
– no hum or hiss
– upper frequencies: crisp, clear, punchy, but without being bright or lean; at same time,
– midrange seems fuller, slightly warmer, more balanced.
– lower frequencies firm but smooth (in a good way).
Most notable improvement to me: channel separation and soundstage – stellar!!
I have used solid state (Moon 110lp v2) and ‘hybrid’ pre-amps in the past [e.g., Hagerman Cornet MM), but in MY room and system, yours sits atop them all.
Thank you again, Gentlemen. Happy listening! WLH
matt_west (verified owner) –
I’ve been using the Universal Phono Preamp for a while now and its really become my favorite phone preamp! I use it almost everyday. I’ve tried a few different tubes in it, but their rebased 14F7s are what really pushes this to the top for me, they sound amazing in it! Very balanced and dynamic, while also bringing out the smallest details I hadn’t noticed with other preamps. I’ve used this phono pre with a Ortofon 2M Black, and also a little with the 2M Bronze, and a Shure 15 type IV. I’ve also used it with a Audio Technica AT33Sa LOMC cartridge, which when paired with the Rocket preamp has enough gain to play at listening volume, but that worked best with louder records. Using MC cartridges with a Piccolo MC Headamp before the Universal Phono Preamp lifts the signal up well above the noise floor and adds loading adjustability for much better pairing with low output cartridges. I feel this combination surpasses my other phono preamps which I’ve compared it to, such as the Project RS, Musical Paradise MP-P2, and even the PS Audio NPC. I’m using this with a Dynavector DV-20X2 currently and loving every listen now that my vinyl sounds the best it ever has.
vseaman8245 (verified owner) –
Dear Jim & Charles,
The Modern Line Phono Preamp arrived in great shape on August 29th which happened to be our 33rd anniversary. On the 31st I was able to unpack and set up the phono pre. Thanks for including the owners manual, it came in really handy. All systems were go and the KEF 104/2 floor standers were dead quiet with no hum. When playing any LP the sound stage was dead quiet between songs. I have the phono pre connected to a Luxman CL-35 MkIII preamp (fully restored). I used my VPI Scout 1.1 TT with a Hana Umami Blue LOMC cartridge. I played California Dreaming and Grits Bowl from CTI’s Summer Jazz at the Hollywood Bowl-Live One. Damn good!!! I then threw on John Coltrane/Blue Train, Simon & Garfunkel/Wednesday Morning 3 AM and now the new UHQR of Art Pepper Meets The Rhythm Section.
The sound is as though the artist(s) are right there in front of you, in the room! Dead quiet, great separation and great bass too. Pure Class A has really made a BIG improvement in the sound of the music. I’m really happy and grateful to you two guys for your hard work in designing this amazing piece of gear. And glad I decided to order a professional build.
Today, I connected my vintage Pioneer PL-630 TT with a Dynavector 10×5 HOMC up to the Modern Line Phono preamp. Listened to the America 50th Anniversary double LP and it sounds amazing. I will try some other MM carts (Shure V15 V-MR and Stanton 681EEE) soon.
Looking forward to your development of the new Modern Line Mono Block amps. I really enjoy watching your videos as I learn so much.
Once again, THANK YOU!
Virgil S.
San Gabriel, California